Historic first Ganga Aarti held on River Thames in UK
The Chinmaya Mission UK hosted the first-ever Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the River Thames in London to mark its 75th anniversary. The event served as a cultural celebration of Hindu traditions and a symbolic gesture of gratitude toward nature.
Why it matters
This event represents the global expansion of Indian cultural and spiritual practices and highlights the integration of diverse traditions within multicultural urban centers.
Thousands gathered on the banks of the River Thames on Sunday (September 13, 2026) for the first-ever Ganga Aarti, a ceremony of light and thanksgiving, in London.
'Ganga Aarti on the Thames: A Ceremony of Light' was organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the annual 'Totally Thames' festival, as part of the global celebrations marking 75 years of the charity. Recreating ethos of the world-famous aarti by the River Ganges in India, the event in London was conceived as a symbol of the life-giving flow of nature, knowledge and consciousness.
"For generations, communities have gathered on the banks of Ganga to offer light in gratitude for the river, for nature and for all that sustains life," said Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya, Resident Teacher of Chinmaya Mission UK.
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